Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on Construction Coverage.
With red-hot demand for construction nationwide, many builders are struggling to find the professionals they need to keep up.
One recent forecast from a national trade association estimated that an additional 501,000 construction professionals will be needed in the industry this year, plus an additional 454,000 in 2025 on top of normal hiring.
This is good news for many experienced construction professionals or those who are considering entering the profession.
Workers with the requisite experience or training can command higher wages or other benefits since their skills are in high demand. Those looking to make a career switch can currently find ample opportunity for entry-level jobs in construction that pay better than other roles with similar educational requirements.
Given these trends, researchers at Construction Coverage set out to identify the most popular construction jobs and understand which roles in the industry are most common. See the details of the methodology at the end.
Here are the most popular construction jobs in the U.S.
15. Structural Iron and Steel Workers
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 1.0%
- Total employment: 63,780
- Median annual wage: $62,760
- State with the highest concentration of workers: South Dakota
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
14. Helpers — Electricians
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 1.1%
- Total employment: 68,670
- Median annual wage: $38,340
- State with the highest concentration of workers: North Carolina
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Lewiston-Auburn, ME
13. Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 1.5%
- Total employment: 90,860
- Median annual wage: $55,700
- State with the highest concentration of workers: California
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
12. Sheet Metal Workers
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 1.9%
- Total employment: 116,190
- Median annual wage: $58,780
- State with the highest concentration of workers: Missouri
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Warner Robins, GA
11. Construction and Building Inspectors
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 2.1%
- Total employment: 133,640
- Median annual wage: $67,700
- State with the highest concentration of workers: New Jersey
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Trenton, NJ
10. Roofers
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 2.2%
- Total employment: 135,140
- Median annual wage: $50,030
- State with the highest concentration of workers: Florida
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL
9. Highway Maintenance Workers
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 2.4%
- Total employment: 150,860
- Median annual wage: $47,360
- State with the highest concentration of workers: Mississippi
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Danville, IL
8. Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 3.3%
- Total employment: 203,560
- Median annual wage: $50,720
- State with the highest concentration of workers: South Dakota
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Merced, CA
7. Painters, Construction and Maintenance
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 3.5%
- Total employment: 215,910
- Median annual wage: $47,700
- State with the highest concentration of workers: Hawaii
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Bremerton-Silverdale, WA
6. Plumbers, Pipefitters and Steamfitters
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 7.0%
- Total employment: 436,160
- Median annual wage: $61,550
- State with the highest concentration of workers: Rhode Island
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Kokomo, IN
5. Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 7.2%
- Total employment: 450,370
- Median annual wage: $56,160
- State with the highest concentration of workers: West Virginia
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Parkersburg-Vienna, WV
4. Carpenters
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 11.2%
- Total employment: 700,290
- Median annual wage: $56,350
- State with the highest concentration of workers: Vermont
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Corvallis, OR
3. Electricians
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 11.4%
- Total employment: 712,580
- Median annual wage: $61,590
- State with the highest concentration of workers: Michigan
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Kokomo, IN
2. First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 12.5%
- Total employment: 777,420
- Median annual wage: $76,760
- State with the highest concentration of workers: North Carolina
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Wilmington, NC
1. Construction Laborers
- Percentage of total U.S. construction employment: 16.4%
- Total employment: 1,019,090
- Median annual wage: $45,300
- State with the highest concentration of workers: Louisiana
- Metro with the highest concentration of workers: Sumter, SC
Methodology
The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
To determine the most popular construction jobs in the United States, researchers ranked 57 total construction occupations based on their percentage of total national construction and extraction employment.
In addition, researchers calculated the most popular construction jobs in each state and metro based on each job’s local employment numbers relative to total construction and extraction employment in each location. Occupations with insufficient employment data were removed.
